Partograph: Labor Progress Monitoring Tool

Partograph: A Graphical Record of Labor and Fetal Progress

The partograph is a graphical record of the progress of labor and relevant details of the mother and the fetus. It serves as a decision-making tool for healthcare providers, helping to prevent obstructed labor, which is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal mortality, particularly in developing countries.

Origins and Use

The partograph was developed by midwives in developed countries to monitor labor and is widely used in obstetric care settings worldwide. It is a simple graphic recording of labor and salient conditions of the mother and fetus against time in hours. The partograph includes action and alert lines to stimulate the commencement of additional interventions by a skilled birth attendant monitoring the labor progress.

Knowledge and Utilization

Despite its widespread use, knowledge and utilization of the partograph vary among healthcare providers. In a cross-sectional study, it was found that although the majority of respondents were aware of the partograph, only 52.4% of obstetric caregivers utilized it routinely. Reasons for not using the partograph included unavailability, lack of training, perception of it being time-consuming, and the preference for using other monitoring tools.

Factors Influencing Utilization

Several factors have been found to influence the utilization of the partograph among obstetric caregivers. These include:

• Profession: Nurses and health officers were found to use the partograph less frequently than midwifery professionals.
• Qualification: Degree-level obstetric caregivers were less likely to use the partograph than those with diploma-level qualifications.
• Training: Obstetric caregivers who received on-the-job training were more likely to use the partograph than those who did not.
• Knowledge: Good knowledge of the partograph is a prerequisite for regular utilization.

Improving Partograph Utilization

To improve partograph utilization, strategies such as assigning midwives in the delivery ward, offering on-the-job training, and improving the knowledge of obstetric caregivers have been suggested.

In conclusion, the partograph is a valuable tool for monitoring labor progress and preventing obstructed labor. However, its utilization among obstetric caregivers can be improved by addressing barriers such as lack of training, poor knowledge, and availability issues.